Recent news

Not all health problems are visible, Transport For London’s new badges recognise this and are encouraging more people to give up their seats for people in need.

If you travel by tube, you may well have seen the ‘baby on board’ badges pregnant women are able to wear, encouraging others to give up their seat if none are available. Many of us know to give up our seat if someone is pregnant, injured or using a walking aid – but what about disabilities and health problems we can’t see?

Last year TFL created the ‘please offer me a seat’ badge for those with hidden illnesses to wear when travelling by tube. Earlier this week to mark the first year anniversary of the badges (and to reinforce their important message), TFL launched ‘Priority Seating Week’.

Pictures and stories of people with hidden illnesses have been shared to raise awareness of the badges and how they help those who wear them. People with health problems like epilepsy and vision impairment were included in the campaign, along with

Friendships can bring us such happiness, but what happens when they turn toxic?

As humans, our brains are wired for connection. We’re social beings who thrive when feeling loved and accepted. Families and significant others form a large part of this, but friendships are also hugely important.

These are the people we chose to spend our free time with. The people we trust, support and laugh with. Just like romantic relationships however, friendships can run their course and even become toxic.

Sometimes the friends we make are circumstantial. Perhaps you were in the same class at school and created a friendship based on this. Even though there may be years of history, you may find your values have changed as you’ve grown into adults and the friendship is now bringing more stress than joy.

The Office for National Statistics have analysed data to establish characteristics and circumstances linked to loneliness.

The effects of loneliness are considered as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Understanding loneliness, and especially who it affects, is important if we want to tackle the problem.

At the start of 2018 the Prime Minister announced the government’s plans to tackle loneliness in Britain, part of this strategy involved an investigation into who was affected and what the risk factors for loneliness are.